Clipboard illuminator



Jan. 29, 1957 E. J. HERMEYER ET AL CLIPBOARD ILLUMINATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. '7, 1955 FIG-2 3 FIG-l INVENTOR.

N NE G P M Y RR M Eqv R H m wE T DR A ME U DA EW 5 6 El United States Patent M CLIPBOARD ILLUMINATOR Edward J. Hermeyer, Ferguson, and Walter E. Strippgen,

Webster Groves, M0.

Application December 7, 1955, Serial No. 551,663

4 Claims. (Cl. 24010.67)

This invention relates in general to certain new and useful improvements in illumination devices and, more particularly, to a battery-powered light adapted for attachment to clip-boards, portable writing pads, and the like.

In many engineering operations and related types of work, it is often necessary to make notes, write down some type of information, or read some such material outdoors at night or in a dark unlighted place in which conventional lighting is not available. This problem also arises in many commonplace endeavors, such as preparing and checking a baggage manifest after dark at a commercial airport or on the platform of a small railway station. Frequently, in such work, conventional lighting is not available in adequate degree at the particular place where needed. it is true that many efforts have been made to deal with this problem by resort to special clipboards equipped with expensive built-in lighting means and by various similarly complicated expedients. Thus far, however, no simple, foolproof, and inexpensive clipboard light has been developed.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to provide a clip-board light which is simple and economical in construction and can be manufactured at relatively modest cost.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a clip-board light of the type stated which affords a high degree of illumination with minimum consumption of battery power and which incorporates a switch mechanism which is extremely economical, but, nevertheless, is positive and durable.

With the above and other objects in view, our invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a clip-board light constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the clip-board light;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the clip-board light, showing the switching mechanism in on position;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the clip-board light partly broken away to show the switching mechanism in off position; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the clip-board light with the top element removed to permit insertion of the battery.

Referring now in more detail and by reference charactors to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, A designates a clipboard light comprising a bottom element 1 preferably stamped from sheet metal and integrally including an open-ended cylindrical shell 2 with a reversely bent hookshaped clip 3 attached to the forward portion of its lower margin and extending transversely across the open bottom thereof. The shell 2 has an internal diametral size which will snugly and retentively accommodate a dry- 2,779,865 Patented Jan. 29, 1957 cell battery B. Thus, when the battery B is fully inserted within the shell, the zinc bottom surface 1 will be in electrical contact with the top face of the clip 3 so that the entire shell 2 becomes a conductor.

Formed integrally with the shell 2 and projecting upwardly and forwardly from the front portion of the top margin thereof is an inclined reflector 4 provided around its periphery with a depending marginal flange or rim 5. The center portion of the reflector 4 is pierced, drawn upwardly, and formed in the provision of a tubular threaded socket 6 adapted to receive a low-voltage lampbulb 7 having the usual threaded shank 8 and central contact button 9. As will be seen by reference to Figure 3, the socket6 is somewhat shorter than the threaded shank 8 of the lamp-bulb 7, so that the central contact button 9 projects upwardly therefrom. It should also be noted that the vertical height of the shell 2 is somewhat shorter than the battery B so that the .latter, when fully inserted, will project slightly above the upper margin thereof. The shell 2 is also provided with diametrally opposite rows, each consisting of two vertically spaced parallel indentations 10 for purposes presently more fully appearing.

Provided for co-operation with the bottom element 1 is a top element 11 also formed of sheet metal and comprising an open-bottomed tubular housing 12 sized for snug-fitting telescopic engagement around the shell 2. Formed integrally with the housing 12 is a hood 13 having a somewhat flat inclined back wall 14 and a peripheral flange 15 which extends forwardly and envelops the reflector 4. The housing 12 is also provided with diametrally opposite indentations 16 located for optional engagement in the indentations 10 of the shell 2 so as to hold the housing 12 in upwardly shifted and downwardly shifted positions with respect to the shell 2, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, respectively.

Rigidly mounted upon the inner face of the back wall 14 and projecting downwardly therefrom is a relatively large insulator block 17 for dielectrically supporting a contact blade 18 secured thereto by means of a short screw 19. The contact blade 18 is curved downwardly at its lower end and preferably sharpened for contactive engagement with the central terminal post 20 of the battery B. The other end of the contact blade 18 extends upwardly and is positioned for somewhat resilient contactive engagement against the central contact button 9 of the lamp-. bulb 7 when the housing 12 is positioned downwardly into the position shown in Figure 3. In this position a circuit is completed between the battery B and the lamp-bulb 7 and the latter will accordingly be lit. Thus, this particular position may be referred to as the on position; When the clipboard light A is not in use, the housing 12 may be shifted upwardly with respect to the shell 2, into the position shown in Figure 4. In this: position, the indentations 16 are engaged in the uppermost indentations 10 and the contact blade 18 will be shifted upwardly in non-contactive position. The clip-board light A may be quickly and conveniently mounted on the edge of any suitable clip-board C or any other similar light tablet by simply slipping the clip 3 over the edge thereof in the usual manner. Since the clip-board C does not, in and of itself, form any part of the present invention, it is merely shown schematically in dotted lines in Figure 3.

Whenever it is necessary to replace the battery B, the top element 11 is pulled upwardly and completely removed from the shell 2 and the spent battery B slipped out, leaving the shell 2 open for receiving a new battery substantially as shown in Figure 5.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the illumination devices may be made and substituted for those herein shown and de- 3 scribedwi'thout departing from the nature and principle of our invention.

Having thus described ou'rinvention, what we claim and .desire to secure by Letters Patent; is: '1. "A clipboard light'conjprising a'battery case-adapted "f'orreceiving an 'electricalbattery, "said case being open at the top and being provided along a lateral portion of its upper margin with an outwardly projecting re- 'flector, means rigidly secured to the casefor'engaging clip.- boards andxsimilarportable writing devices, a shell shift- "ably mounted upon the case and being provided with a laterally opening hood shaped to fit looselyaround said reflector, locking means "for optionally holding the case andshell in either of two relatively shifted positions, .an electric lamp o'peratively mountedin 'the space Within the 'hoodfelectric current carrying means forming part of the case and being adapted for electrically connecting one terminal of the lamp with one terminal of the battery, and electric current carrying means mounted in the shell for electrically connecting the other terminal of the lamp with the'ot'her terminal of the battery, the circuit through atlea'st'one "o'f's'aid electric current carrying means being broken by relative shifting movement of the shell and case withrespectfto each other into one of said shifted positions and being restored upon relative shifting movement of the shell and case into the other of said shifted positions.

'2. A clipboard light comprising a tubular electrically conductive battery case adapted'for receiving an electrical battery, said case being open at the top and being provided along a lateral portion of its upper margin with an upwardly and outwardly projecting reflector, a resilient one piece clip associated with the casefo'r springwise engaging clipboards and similar portable writing devices, a tubular shell telescopically and shiftably mounted upon the upper end of the case and being in turn provided at its upper end with a laterally opening hood shaped to fit loosely around the reflector, locking means optionally holding the case and shell in either of two relatively shifted positions, an electric lamp operatively mounted in the reflector and being electrically connected through said reflector and said case with one terminal of the battery, and an electrical current'carrying blade mounted in the shell for electrically connecting the other terminal of the lamp with the other terminal of the battery, said blade being adapted to be shifted upwardly with the shell whereby the circuit to the lamp is broken by relative shifting movement of the shell and case with respect to each other.

3. A clipboard light comprising a tubular electrically conductive battery case adapted for receiving anelectrical battery, said case being open at the top and being provided along a lateral portion of its upper margin with an upwardly and outwardly projecting reflector, a resilient reversely bent hook-shaped clip associated with the case for 'springwise engaging clipboards and similar portable writing devices, a tubular shell telescopically and shiftably 'nrounte'dnpen "the upperend of the case and being in turn provided at its upper end with a laterally opening hood shaped to fit loosely around the reflector, locking means for optionally holding the case and shell in either of two relatively shifted positions, an electric lamp operatively mounted in the reflector :andbeing electrically connected through said reflector and said case with one terminal of the battery, and electrical current carrying means mounted in, and extending angularly across, the shell for electrically connecting'the other'terminal of the lamp with the other terminal of the battery, said means being adapted to be shifted upwardly with the shell-whereby the circuit to the lamp is broken by relative shifting movement of the shellan'd case with respect to each other.

4. A clipboard light comprising a tubular electrically conductive battery case adapted for receiving an electrical battery, said case being open at the top and being provided along a lateral portion of its upper margin with an 'upwardly and outwardly projecting reflector having a de pending marginal rim, 1a resilient reversely bent hooks'haped clipmounted'on "the case for springwise engaging clipboards and similar portable writing devices, an openbottomed "tubular shell telescopically and shiftably mountedupon the upper end of the case and being in turn provided at its upperend with a laterally opening hood 'shapedto fit loosely around said depending marginal rim, locking means for optionally holding the case and shell in either of two relatively shifted positions, an electric lamp "operatively mounted in the reflector and being electri'c'ally connectedthr'ough said reflector and said case with one terminal of the battery, and an electrical current carrying blade mounted in, and extending angulairly -across,i"the shell and being in contact at its opposite ends resp'ectivelywith .the other terminal of the lamp and the other "terminal of the battery when the case and'shell are shifted toward each other for electrically connecting the other terminal 'of the lamp with the other terminal of the battery, said blade being adapted to be shifted upwardly with the shell whereby the circuit to the lamp is broken by relative shifting movement of the shell and case with respect toeach other.

R'eferences Cited in the file. of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

